West Allis driver gets 18 months for fatal hit-and-run

A 32-year-old West Allis man was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in prison for driving over a woman in the street without stopping, killing her and indirectly leading to a second fatal crash that same night.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Ellen Brostrom on Thursday added five years of extended supervision to Jesse R. Steinmetz's prison term. While on supervision, Steinmetz must undergo drug and alcohol assessment, maintain absolute sobriety and perform 200 hours of community service that includes at least 10 public appearances to talk about drinking and driving.

Steinmetz pleaded no contest in October to homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He had originally been charged with hit-and-run causing death.

Mary Jane Moore, 45, was apparently lying in the street early on April 29 when police say she was run over by Steinmetz. Police followed a trail of oil from the scene to Steinmetz's house, where they knocked on his door for more than three hours before he came out. He told police he'd been to a bar that night and on the way home thought he'd hit a small animal in the 1500 block of S. 81st St.

Witnesses told police Moore had been arguing with someone inside Cap'n Nick's tavern shortly before Steinmetz passed by that location.

Moore's son, Thomas Olson, 22, died in fatal crash later that same day, when he and a friend were rushing to the hospital after hearing that Moore had been run over. The driver, Olson's friend Xavier Hughes, pleaded no contest in August to homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Hughes, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.